TY - JOUR
AU - L. Xue
AU - Y. Gong
AU - S. Pill
AU - W. Han
A1 - 
AB - Background/Objectives: Communication disorders in childhood, including expressive, receptive, pragmatic, and fluency impairments, have been consistently linked to mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, and behavioural difficulties. However, existing research remains fragmented across diagnostic categories and developmental stages. This scoping review aimed to synthesise empirical evidence on the relationship between communication disorders and mental health outcomes in children and adolescents and to identify key patterns and implications for practice and policy. Methods: Following the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) and Arksey and O'Malley's framework, this review included empirical studies published in English between 2000 and 2024. Five databases were searched, and ten studies met the inclusion criteria. Data were charted and thematically analysed to explore associations across communication profiles and emotional-behavioural outcomes. Results: Four interconnected themes were identified: (1) emotional and behavioural manifestations of communication disorders; (2) social burden linked to pragmatic and expressive difficulties; (3) family and environmental stressors exacerbating child-level challenges; and (4) a lack of integrated care models addressing both communication and mental health needs. The findings highlight that communication disorders frequently co-occur with emotional difficulties, often embedded within broader social and systemic contexts. Conclusions: This review underscores the need for developmentally informed, culturally responsive, and interdisciplinary service models that address both communication and mental health in children. Early identification, family-centred care, and policy reforms are critical to reducing inequities and improving outcomes for this underserved population.
AD - Teaching Methods Department, College of Education, Qingdao Hengxing University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266100, China.; College of Education, Early Childhood Teaching, Curtin University, Perth Western 6845, Australia.; College of Education, Psychology and Social Work, Flinders University, Adelaide 5042, Australia.
AN - 40805842
BT - Healthcare (Basel)
C5 - Healthcare Disparities
CP - 15
DA - Jul 25
DO - 10.3390/healthcare13151807
DP - NLM
ET - 20250725
IS - 15
JF - Healthcare (Basel)
LA - eng
N2 - Background/Objectives: Communication disorders in childhood, including expressive, receptive, pragmatic, and fluency impairments, have been consistently linked to mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, and behavioural difficulties. However, existing research remains fragmented across diagnostic categories and developmental stages. This scoping review aimed to synthesise empirical evidence on the relationship between communication disorders and mental health outcomes in children and adolescents and to identify key patterns and implications for practice and policy. Methods: Following the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) and Arksey and O'Malley's framework, this review included empirical studies published in English between 2000 and 2024. Five databases were searched, and ten studies met the inclusion criteria. Data were charted and thematically analysed to explore associations across communication profiles and emotional-behavioural outcomes. Results: Four interconnected themes were identified: (1) emotional and behavioural manifestations of communication disorders; (2) social burden linked to pragmatic and expressive difficulties; (3) family and environmental stressors exacerbating child-level challenges; and (4) a lack of integrated care models addressing both communication and mental health needs. The findings highlight that communication disorders frequently co-occur with emotional difficulties, often embedded within broader social and systemic contexts. Conclusions: This review underscores the need for developmentally informed, culturally responsive, and interdisciplinary service models that address both communication and mental health in children. Early identification, family-centred care, and policy reforms are critical to reducing inequities and improving outcomes for this underserved population.
PY - 2025
SN - 2227-9032 (Print); 2227-9032
ST - Communication Disorders and Mental Health Outcomes in Children and Adolescents: A Scoping Review
T1 - Communication Disorders and Mental Health Outcomes in Children and Adolescents: A Scoping Review
T2 - Healthcare (Basel)
TI - Communication Disorders and Mental Health Outcomes in Children and Adolescents: A Scoping Review
U1 - Healthcare Disparities
U3 - 10.3390/healthcare13151807
VL - 13
VO - 2227-9032 (Print); 2227-9032
Y1 - 2025
ER -